On a rainy afternoon, Tessa Lane was driving down the highway when something on the shoulder caught her eye. At first, it looked like a pile of garbage. But then, as her car passed at just the right angle, she saw a tiny ear flick up.
It wasn’t trash at all — it was a terrified puppy.
Cars sped past as the little dog crouched in the pouring rain, too scared to move. Lane’s heart sank. She knew she couldn’t just keep driving.
“I knew the risks of stopping on the highway,” Lane said. “But all I could think about was getting that sweet girl to safety.”
Lane quickly turned around and pulled over. She knew it was risky to get out of her car and approach the pup, but she set her fears aside to rescue the animal.
“The possibility of someone hydroplaning and losing control or of Lucky darting into the road was truly frightening, and the potential consequences weighed heavily on my mind,” Lane said. “My thoughts were racing, but above all, my main focus was to get that sweet girl to safety.”
Just as she was figuring out how to coax the frightened pup toward her, another kind stranger, Misty, stopped to help. The puppy bolted under Lane’s car, and together the two women carefully worked to draw her out.
At last, the dog was safe. Lane carried her home and gave her a name that felt right: Lucky.
At first, Lucky kept her distance, too shaken to trust. But later that same day, she took food directly from Lane’s hand — the first small step toward hope.
A local groomer, Andrea, who had seen Lucky’s story online, offered her a bath and haircut. Clean, soft, and cared for, Lucky began to feel more comfortable.
Each day, she grew braver and more affectionate.
“It’s clear that earning her trust will take time,” Lane said. “But I know she’ll understand one day that she’s safe with us and we’d never hurt her.”
That bond only deepened. And soon, Lane realized there was no way she could let Lucky go.
Now that Lane has firsthand experience rescuing a dog from a dire situation, she encourages everyone who finds an animal in distress to do their best to help.
“They don’t have the words to ask for assistance or the understanding of where to go for safety,” Lane said.
Thankfully for Lucky, though, the right person found her and saved her life.
“I truly believe we formed a special connection that day,” Lane said. “I can’t imagine life without her now.”
Lucky’s story is a reminder that animals in need can’t ask for help, but we can choose to notice them — and act.
